At Think Health Think Nature, we are well aware of the positive effects that nature and the outdoors can have on not just our physical health – but our mental health too. You don’t have to just take our world for it, we have gathered together a range of existing case studies that have been undertaken locally, including walking and cycling initiatives – and community green space projects.
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Woman’s Walking Group; supporting the Gypsy/Traveller Community
“I started the walking group to create an opportunity for the women in our community to have a break from the work at home and to reduce social isolation that many people in the Gypsy/Traveller experience- especially since Covid”. Jessie McPhee is one of the Community Health Worker for MECOPP and works to improve…
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The beach is for everyone- and accessibility is easier than you think…
Nairn Beach Wheelchairs (NBW) is a volunteer run organisation that enables wheelchair users to access the beach through their free to use, specialised beach wheelchairs. They just opened in March 2025 and will have an official launch this summer- keep an eye out for announcements, there are exciting things coming! NBW has 5 manual wheelchairs…
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Young people and nature connection- A case study from the Cairngorm National Park Authority
A partnership project, between Aboyne Academy and the Cairngorms National Park Authority Ranger Service, provided six sessions designed to provide a small group of students with the mental and physical health benefits associated with connecting them to nature. The three students who attended these pilot sessions were barely attending school due to mental health challenges and…
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Arts in Nature Creative Session with Gateway Homeless Trust
Executive Summary This case study explores the creative activity delivered by the Arts in Nature project, focusing on a nature-based arts session for vulnerable adults who are supported by Gateway Homeless trust. The session aimed to engage participants of varying ages and all abilities in natural and artistic activities, highlighting the wellbeing benefits combining art with…
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Case Study: Refugees and Nature for Health
Nature for Health green health programme Over the course of a year Nature for Health ran a series of outdoor activities for refugee families from Syria and Afghanistan, now settled in the Highlands. Starting from September 2021, the 5 hour long events took place in Dingwall Pefferside Park, the beach and Big Burn woods at…
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Green Health Case Study: Darach Social Croft
Sarah and Hugh moved to Darach croft on the Ardnamurchan peninsula in West Lochaber in 2017. They already had 15 years’ experience of providing support to individuals with mental, emotional and behavioural issues; learning disabilities, autism and neurodiversity; experience of care; drug and alcohol problems and histories of offending behaviour. Sarah also had previous experience…
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Development of Forest Bathing Green Prescriptions in the Cairngorms
Funding from the Highland Green Health Small Grant Fund has enabled the development of a monthly forest bathing community to establish in Grantown-on-Spey, located at the Grantown Medical Centre Health Wood. The group is open to all and also welcomes participants through a green prescription pathway, from local GP’s and the Green Health Link Worker.
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Insh Community holdings
The group’s aim was to purchase a winch that would allow them to extract large logs of non native species of trees. These would be processed into firewood and delivered to households through the village by our volunteers
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Befriending Caithness- new walking project
Befriending Caithness ran their first in a series of Green Health Nature Walks to Dunnet Forest, Caithness, North of Scotland.
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Walking Back to Health following COVID19 by Kate Thomson Partnership for Wellbeing
Early in 2021 Arthur contracted Covid-19 and was hospitalised for over 4 weeks and on ventilation in ICU. Walking has been integral to his recovery and has helped him to monitor his progress.
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Vaccination Clinics – Green Health – Watch While You Wait!
We placed a 10 minute video on loop at the vaccination clinic in Aviemore, encouraging people to get outside into nature and promoting Think Health Think Nature.
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The North’s Pole Drop
During winter 2021, there was a prolonged period of snow and ice on the ground in Badenoch & Strathspey.
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Getting Active with the Active Health Project – A Personal Story from a Participant
Patient was referred to the Active Health Project by her GP for support in making a plan and working towards increased physical activity.
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Active Health Link Workers
A motivational, person-centred program to support individuals in making and working towards achievable realistic goals for physical activity.
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Nature Walks for Wellbeing
Nature Walks for Wellbeing are 90 minute sessions that use nature walks to provide mindful nature-based therapy to those suffering from mental illness.
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Highland Green Health Home Packs – Adapting to COVID by Tania Alliod
A series of outdoor public events was planned throughout the nine Community Planning areas of Highland to promote this message and then the COVID pandemic put a spanner in the works.
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From Beach Litter to Skipping Rope: A Sustainable Fitness Journey by Katie Matthews
Fifteen people engaged in a shoreline walk around Badentarbet Bay and took part in two beach cleans collecting marine litter for recycling into skipping rope equipment.